Welcome to the blog for Chikarma Diving. Here you will great articles about scuba diving in Malta & Gozo including Malta dive sites, Gozo dive sites, Malta dive centres and Gozo dive centres. You will find great articles about all topics in relation to scuba diving.

Sunday, 25 March 2012

Malta, officially known as the Republic of Malta (Maltese: Repubblika ta' Malta), is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, 80 km (50 mi) south of Sicily, 284 km (176 mi) east of Tunisia and 333 km (207 mi) north of Libya, with Gibraltar 1,755 km (1,091 mi) to the west and Alexandria 1,508 km (937 mi) to the east. Malta covers just over 316 km2 (122 sq mi) in land area, making it one of the world's smallest states. It is also one of the most densely populated countries worldwide. The de facto capital city of Malta is Valletta; the largest town, Birkirkara. The main island comprises many towns, which together form one Larger Urban Zone (LUZ) with a population of 368,250 according to Eurostat. The country has two official languages, Maltese (considered the national language) and English. Throughout history, Malta's location has given it great strategic importance, and a succession of powers including the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Aragonese, Habsburg Spain, Knights of St John, French and the British ruled the islands. Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1964 and became a republic in 1974, whilst retaining membership in the Commonwealth of Nations. Malta was admitted to the United Nations in 1964 and to the European Union in 2004. Malta is also party to the Schengen Agreementand in 2008 it became part of the eurozone. Malta has a long Christian legacy and is an Apostolic see. According to the Acts of the Apostles in the Bible, St. Paul was shipwrecked on "Melite", as the Greeks called the island, and ministered there. Catholicism is the official religion in Malta as declared by the Maltese constitution. Malta is internationally renowned as a tourist destination, with numerous recreational areas and historical monuments, including nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, most prominently the Megalithic Temples which are some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world.

Facts About Malta & Maltese Islands/ Gozo & Comino

Malta is a traveller-friendly country that provides holidays options for people on all budgets, and allows for more than just warm-weather, beach-going vacations – there’s a good deal of history, culture and tradition to explore too, so this island is a great choice if you are thinking of a long weekend here in the low season which could constitute a cheap and fun city break or a 2 week action packed vacation. The country is so small you could cover most of the main highlights in just a few days although in two weeks you could really learn the best of what is on offer in the Maltese Islands to include Malta, Gozo and Comino. Malta has a typically Mediterranean climate, with mild winters, hot, dry summers and some 300 days of sunshine which is always welcome. For this reasons Malta is considered an all year round destination. It is also why Malta is so popular with the rest of Europe due to its easy accessibility and access to cheap flights. One can find affordable flights and package deals at any time of year. There aren’t too many alternatives to Malta if you want to stay within Europe and still be sunbathing in November! Winters are not at all unpleasant here, with an average of six hours of sunshine daily in January and daytime temperatures around 16ºC. Sea temperatures around the islands range from 15ºC in midwinter, to a balmy 25ºC in August and September.

The peak season for travel to Malta is June to September, when many resort hotels are booked solid. However, daytime temperatures in July and August can reach more than 35ºC – uncomfortably hot – and it’s tough to find your own patch of sand or rock at any beach. Weather-wise, the best time to visit is spring (April to June) and autumn (September and October), though September still counts as high season in many hotels and the pleasant weather can sometimes be interrupted by a hot and humid wind, or rainfall. For water-babies, the sea temperature is considerably warmer in autumn than in spring. The availability of luxury self-catering apartments to rent is a good option for accommodation and is becoming more popular with tourists who want to be in control.

Average Temperature in Malta - Weather

In November and December daytime temperatures range from 13ºC to 19ºC and a fair amount of sunshine between spells of rain showers (the total annual rainfall is low, at around 580mm, and it falls mainly between September and February). January and February are the coldest months, when a strong northeasterly wind (the grigal) makes conditions more unpleasant. Winds are a feature of Malta’s weather. The stiff sea breeze is cooling in summer, but in winter the grigal can whip up the waves that pound across the harbour walls and occasionally disrupt the ferry service to Gozo. In spring and autumn the southeasterly xlokk (sirocco) sometimes blows in from North Africa, bringing humid and occasionally foggy conditions.

Wednesday, 21 March 2012

P29 Patrol Boat was a Kondor I Class former Minesweeper and Patrol Boat scuttled in August 2007 off Ċirkewwa. Built by Peenewerft shipyard as a Minesweeper for the East German Navy under the name Boltenhagen. She served with the Armed Forces of Malta as an offshore patrol boat for almost 10 years. The P29 minesweeper patrol boat is Malta's latest wreck. The Kondor Class minesweeper was orginally built for the German navy but later used by the Armed forces of Malta as a patrol boat. The sinking of the Patrol boat as a diving attraction was arranged by the Malta Marine Foundation and sponsored by the Malta Tourism Authority. A sister ship is due to be sunk later off Comino. The P29 was sank quite some distance from shore but can be dived by the fit. It is much more easy to dive this wreck by boat and it has been a huge hit with our diving clients. The wreck is around 52 metres long and hit the bottom end on before lying flat at 37 metres.

On 15 April 2012 Malta will be celebrating the award of the George Cross as a result of the heroism and devotion of the island to the cause. The Government will be running numerous events around the island to enable the people of Malta & Gozo to celebrate in style and remember a proud moment in Malta's history. We will post more on the planned events shortly so keep an eye on this blog. Here is a little history about Malta and the George Cross.

Malta George Cross

15th April 1942, King George VI announced to the nation of Malta the award of the George Cross to the nation. His words were: "To honour the brave people I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history."

These words were heard on the 15th of April of this year in a re-enactment organised by the Malta Tourism Authority to commemorate the 66th anniversary since this bestowment of the George Cross in St. George's Square.

The event covered the years from the 10th June 1939 till 13th September 1932. The introduction was given by Guzè Aquilina's poem Malta Invicta which is an attribute to the first years of the war. An account of the salient periods of the war was given while sound effects helped create an ambience of the era.

The culmination of the activity was the handing of the George Cross by Lord Gort, Governor of Malta to Chief Justice George Borg which took place on Sunday 13th September 1942. The original toga that was worn by the Chief Justice was loaned by the family for yesterday's one-off commemorative and symbolic re-enactment that depicted one of the most memorable and triumphant moments in wartime Malta.

The George Cross was later accompanied to the Palace Armoury for display to the public.

Saturday, 25 February 2012

Scuba Diving hand signals are vital information for all scuba divers. Whether you are a beginner or seasoned diver you will always need to ensure you remember the key hand signals which ensure good buddy communication. Without good communication with your buddy you undoubtedly take risks. The following scuba diving hand signals are the standard list of hand signals required to enable you to communicate with your dive buddy.

Saturday, 18 February 2012

Here you will find the PADI Courses flow chart for all PADI Courses. This flow chart is helpful to follow which courses are pre requisites to enable you to plan your progression and PADI certification route.

PADI Courses Flow Chart

At the Chikarma Diving blog we will be providing detail blog entries on all PADI scuba diving Courses. Come back and check out the Course details when required.

Sunday, 12 February 2012

HMS Maori (L-24/F-24/G-24) was a Tribal-class destroyer laid down by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Limited, at Govan in Scotland on 6 June 1936, launched on 2 September 1937by Mrs. W. J. Jordan and commissioned on 2 January 1939. She was named after the indigenous Māori people of New Zealand, and Mrs Jordan was the wife of the New Zealand High Commissioner William Jordan.

HMS Maori - Scuba Diving Sites Malta / Scuba Diving Sites Gozo

Maori served with the Mediterranean Fleet, was involved in the pursuit and destruction of the enemy German battleship Bismarck in May 1941, and served with the 14th Destroyer Flotilla during the Battle of Cape Bon in December 1941. Maori, commanded by Commander R. E. Courage, RN, was attacked by enemy German aircraft and sank at her moorings in the Malta Grand Harbour on 12 February 1942 with the loss of one of her crew. She was raised and scuttled off Malta on 15 July 1945.

Located a few hundred metres from the shore from Valletta, HMS Maori is now a popular dive site. The bow section lies in white sand at a depth of 14m, the aft section of the ship having been abandoned in deep water during the tow from Grand Harbour to Marsamxett Harbour. Much of the forward superstructure is still extant, including the two front gun bases. Much marine life can be found on the wreck.

MV Rozi was a Bristol built tugboat launched in 1958 as the Rossmore by Charles Hill & Sons Ltd. In 1969 she was sold to Rea Towing Company and renamed Rossgarth. In 1981 she was sold to Tug Malta, and renamed Rozi, operated in Grand Harbour Valletta.

Rozi was scuttled in 1992 off Ċirkewwa as an artificial reef and attraction for Captain Morgan's Underwater Safari Tours. The submarine no longer operates, but the wreck is a popular diving attraction sitting upright, intact except for its engines and propeller, on a sandy bed at a depth of 35 metres (115 ft).

The Um El Faroud is the wreck of a Libyan motor tanker that was being worked on in a dry dock in Malta when a gas explosion on board killed nine Maltese dockworkers. For three years after the 1995 explosion she lay in the harbor of Valletta, then she was moved to the current location. She sits upright on the sandy seabed southwest of Wied iz-Zurrieq. The Um El Faroud weighs 10,000 tons and is 115 metres (377 ft) long.The depth to the top of the bridge is 18 metres (59 ft) and 25 metres (82 ft) to the main deck. Scuba divers might come across some squid and barracudas at the stern. The wreck can be entered fairly easily, but due to its size, this should be restricted only to divers with advanced wreck diving training.

Um El Faroud: Scuba Diving Sites Malta & Scuba Diving Sites Gozo

M/t Um El Faroud was built in 1969 at Smith Dock Co. Ltd, Middlesbrough, England and was owned by the General National Maritime Transport Company, Tripoli (GNMTC). She had been operating between Italy and Libya carrying refined fuel up to 1 February 1995. On 3 February 1995 she was docked at No.3 Dock of Malta Dry-docks. During the night of 3 February an explosion occurred in No.3 centre tank and nine shipyard workers lost their lives. The vessel suffered structural deformation and, following inspection and survey, was considered a total write-off. She occupied the dock after the explosion until it was decided that the best option to utilize her remaining value was to scuttle her as a diving attraction and to start a new life as an artificial reef. The vessel measures 109.53 metres (359.4 ft) in length, and has a beam of 15.5 metres (51 ft); the height of the vessel from keel to funnel top is approximately 22 metres (72 ft). Um El Faroud was a single screw motor tanker.After a bad storm in winter 2005/6 the ship has now broken in two. ref.

The Inland Sea, sometimes called Qawra in Maltese, is a lagoon of seawater on the island of Gozo linked to the Mediterranean Sea through an opening formed by a narrow natural arch.

Inland Sea - Gozo: Scuba Diving Sites Gozo & Scuba diving sites Malta

It was probably formed where a geological fault in the limestone had created a sea cave and the roof then collapsed.

On one side there is a gently shelving stony beach with several fishermen's huts. The boats are often pulled up on to the stony beach. The bottom of the lagoon is also mostly pebbles and rocks and is fairly shallow. As you exit through the tunnel towards open sea, the floor drops away in a series of shelves to a depth of up to 35 metres on the outside. Jacques Cousteau said the Inland Sea was among his top ten dives.

On calm days fishing boats, known in Maltese as luzzijiet, can pass through the tunnel. Some of the boats are used to take visitors through the archway and then for a tour of the nearby cliffs and other sites, mainly to the Fungus Rock and another large natural arch in the cliffs called the Azure Window.

The Azure Window (Maltese: Tieqa Żerqa) is a natural arch in the Maltese island of Gozo featuring a table-like rock over the sea. It is situated near two other famous natural landmarks - the Inland Sea, and Dwejra Bay. The stunning geography of the area was created thousands of years ago when two limestone caves collapsed. This and the nearby Blue Hole and Inland sea are popular scuba diving sites.

Azure Window - Scuba Dive Sites Malta / Scuba Diving Sites Gozo

Dwejra is a tourist village that belongs to the town of St. Lawrence, Gozo, Malta. Dwejra Bay is also part of San Lawrenz. The water of the bay is suitable for swimming, scuba diving, and boating.

The Azure Window has been featured in films, such as Clash of the Titans (1981) at the 104th minute and The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) at the 13th minute. It can also be seen in the television miniseries The Odyssey (1997), and HBO's TV series Game of Thrones. The filming of Game of Thrones resulted in controversy when a protected ecosystem was damaged by a subcontractor.

The Azure Window was recently measured by surveyor Noe Ardanaz of The University of Edinburgh. The height was given as 22.54m, slightly higher than the previous unofficial estimates of 18 to 20 metres.

Although illegal, the Azure Window is a popular cliff diving or tomb-stoning spot. Many videos on YouTube feature people leaping from the middle, and side of the arch.

The arch of the Azure Window is disintegrating, as large pieces of rock keep falling from the arch. It is expected that the arch will completely disappear within just a few years. The arch is in a dangerous condition and warning notices are placed to stop people walking over the top of the arch. Evidence of this can be seen when the images of the Azure Window as shown in Clash of the Titans (1981) are compared to the more recent images shown in The Odyssey (1997) and The Count of Monte Cristo (2002). The former images depict the Azure Window arch with a flat underside, whereas the latter images clearly show that a significant proportion the flat underside has since broken away. Once the arch has completely crumbled away, the Azure Window shall be renamed Azure Pinnacle.

This is caused by rupture of the fragile lining of the lung's alveoli allowing large quantities of air to enter the blood vessels leading to the small arteries in the brain via the heart.

Cerebral Arterial Gas Embolism is the result of pulmonary barotrauma usually caused when a diver runs out of air. This will often result in a panic reaction, with breath-holding and rapid ascent to the surface leading to over expansion of the lungs as the volume of air in them increases with decreasing ambient water pressure (Boyle’s Law).

Signs and Symptoms of CAGE

Cerebral Arterial Gas Embolism is the result of pulmonary barotrauma, which may present with the following symptoms.

·Subcutaneous emphysema, particularly around collarbone area.

·Chest pain.

·Shortness of breath (dyspnoea).

·Coughing, possibly with blood (haemoptysis).

·Increase in heart rate (tachycardia).

·Decrease in blood pressure (hypotension).

The resulting cerebral damage may result in the following symptoms.

·Severe headache.

·Paralysis.

·Numbness.

·Unconsciousness.

Symptoms similar to those of neurological DCS may also be present. Any confusion between the diagnosis of CAGE or neurological DCS should not influence the immediate care of the affected diver, as both are medical emergencies treated initially in the same way.

Treatment of DCS (CAGE and DCI)

Initial treatment for all suspected cases of decompression illness, whether thought to be DCS or CAGE, should be the same. Firstly, the accepted practice of "Safety, ABC" should be used.

·Safety first - do not place yourself at risk of becoming another casualty, it is more difficult to treat two divers than just one.

·If unconscious, place the casualty in the recovery position and ensure airway is open.

·Administer high concentration oxygen if available.

·Perform CPR if required.

·Seek medical assistance immediately- see the contact section for details.

In addition, rescuers should ensure the following.

·Lay the casualty down and keep them horizontal - this may help prevent bubble migration to the brain.

·Encourage the diver to remain calm and still.

·Protect against hypothermia - replace wet clothes with dry. Do not expose to excessive heat.

·Encourage fluid intake (aim for 1 litre in the first hour) - if the casualty has a reduced conscious level or has difficulty in swallowing then avoid giving oral fluids. If available, intravenous fluid therapy is preferred.

·Monitor for deterioration and record observations.

·Notify the appropriate emergency service of any deterioration.

·Do not give opiates as this may reduce respiratory rate and prolong nitrogen off-loading.

·Never administer Entonox ("gas and air"), as this will worsen the condition due to its high nitrogen content.

Recompression Therapy

The definitive treatment for any form of decompression illness is recompression in a hyperbaric chamber.

The main purpose of this is to reduce the size of any existing bubbles. In addition, 100% oxygen is given in order to encourage the excretion of nitrogen from the body.

Symptoms may persist due to existing tissue damage and the accumulation of blood cells, etc, around the points where bubbles were situated.

At the Hyperbaric Medicine Unit in Aberdeen the most common therapy for bends is based on a modified U.S. Navy Table 6 profile. In this treatment, the patient is compressed to nearly three times normal atmospheric pressure, which equates to a depth of 18msw.

Depending on the patient's condition during the treatment, the table may be extended, or changed to a Heliox (HeO2) saturation table lasting several days.

Diagnosis is based mainly on the patient’s history. For example, an 80 year old lady in A&E complaining of a painful shoulder, shopping bags by her trolley, is unlikely to have DCS – whereas a 20 year old with the same presenting symptoms and a SCUBA tank next to them is a likely candidate for recompression treatment.

A useful description of DCS can be achieved by noting the area(s) of the body affected.

General signs (constitutional).

·Nausea, weakness or fatigue.

Skin (cutaneous).

·Itching (pruritis).

·Generalised rash.

·Lumps.

·Cutis marmorata marbling (serious sign).

·Crackling feeling (subcutaneous emphysema) - not usually around collarbone.

The “Rhomberg test” is commonly used to assess a patient with suspected DCS. The patient is asked to stand heel to toe, with legs slightly bent at the knees. They then cross the arms with them lifted off the chest and close their eyes. Those with neurological DCS are unlikely to be able to maintain their balance for more than a second or two.

It must be emphasised that even in the absence of obvious symptoms, the possibility of DCS should be considered if the diver's circumstances suggest such a risk. Those with any symptoms of DCS, however mild, are at risk of further episodes.

Classification of DCS

Decompression sickness can be classified as either Type 1 or Type 2. The different classification reflects the effect, and therefore the severity, of the condition.

Type 1 DCS can occur when bubbles affect the tissues around skeletal joints. The areas most often affected are the knees, elbows and shoulders.

Decompression sickness might also present as a skin (cutaneous) disorder. Nitrogen bubbles can cause mottling, lumps or a rash. "Skin bends", as they are colloquially termed, are more common during hyperbaric chamber 'dives' and when diving using a dry suit. Although not usually in themselves serious, skin symptoms may indicate the presence of problems elsewhere. If left untreated, Type 1 DCS may progress to Type 2.

Type 2 decompression sickness reflects involvement of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and / or the cardio-respiratory system. More than half of those diagnosed with DCS will be classified as Type 2. Cerebral symptoms arise from interruption of the blood supply to the main part of the brain, and include confusion, reduced mental function and unconsciousness. Involvement of the cerebellum may lead to tremors, loss of balance ("staggers") and a lack of co-ordination (ataxia). Balance may also be affected by damage to the vestibular part of the inner ear.

Spinal DCS may present as back pain, paresthesia (pins and needles), paralysis and loss of urinary sphincter control - resulting in either incontinence or retention.

As discussed already, the formation of small inert gas bubbles does not necessarily lead to the development of DCS. Likewise, when bubbles become trapped in the tiny blood vessels around the lungs' alveoli (air sacs), problems do not always arise. In fact, it is thought that their accumulation in this area may increase the rate that the gas is excreted from the body (Edmonds et al, 1993). However, if too many bubbles collect, breathing will become adversely affected ("chokes"). Symptoms include breathlessness, tachypnoea, chest pain and coughing. Although symptoms may resolve, this should be regarded as a life-threatening condition as it may progress to fatal respiratory collapse.

I also own and run a scuba diving blog covering all topics in relation to scuba diving across the world including articles on the best dive sites in Malta & Gozo and advice on PADI dive tables and many more useful blog posts. I like to write articles on scuba diving in my own time and pass on my experiences to the scuba diving world. Other blog posts in relation to Malta & Gozo can be found in our general travel blog.

If you have any questions in relation to Malta or Gozo or anything scuba diving related you can email me direct on info@chikarmaworld.com. I would be happy to assist where I can.